"Long Arm" Lot 81 Paso Robles Blend

I haven't seen this bottle of wine reviewed anywhere else online, so I thought I'd write a quick review of it. It's an iconic bottle with orange text and a lone star that looks like it's striaght out of a Texas western. The Lot 81 "Long Arm" Paso Robles blend sells at Trader Joes in the $7-8 range.

First, it offers a nice nose, with cranberry and peat smells. First sip offered a subtle sweetness, but develops through some straweberry flavors into a dry flavor as the wine opens up. After a few sips, what sold me on this being a worthy wine was mostly the dryness and herbal notes. It's a good valuable and, though food friendly, a great stand-alone wine.

No identification is given of what makes up the blend, but I'd guess it's mostly Grenache, with some Zin, Cab and Cab Franc thrown in as well. Overall, four stars, certainly not as generous as Volver Tempranillo or Horse Heaven Hills Cab, but at this price point, it's a very nice wine.

Presentation: ****
Nose: **
Complexity: ****
Value: ****

Overall: ****

Calderona 2004 Crianza

Calderona 2004 Crianza (Tempranillo)

Presentation: ***
Nose: ****
Complexity: ***
Value: ****

Overall: ***

This wine had everything I tend to look for in a Tempranillo. Because it's been aged, it had a nice, but not overwhelming earthy flavor, and when drinking it, I sensed that it wouldn't age nicely much longer. Good tobacco and some spice-box flavors, not as robust as Volver Tempranillo (one of my favorites) but a bit less new-world, too. At $10-12 a bottle, this wine rewards the finder with a delightful drinking experience. Overall, between three and four stars.

Chasing Lions 2006 Napa Valley

Presentation: ***
Nose: *
Complexity: *
Value: **

Overall: *

The year 2006 was a great one for many Napa Valley wines and wineries, but this "Chasing Lions" blend is, for the most part, a disappointment. With little complexity and no real nose to say much about, it's real strengths were the appearance of it's bottle and a subtle aftertaste of leather or tobacco. Not reccomended--many better bottles can be found in the $10 to $15 price range.

Tapena 2008 Garnacha (La Mancha, Spain)

There's something about Grenache. It's not unlike Cabernet in a lot of ways, but without all the tannins. It's also got a velvety texture that does wonders, and that's the real beauty of this wine. That, and the nose, which is superb. My experience with this bottle was that it didn't pair well with food at all. Because it's not so tannic, it won't stand up to a steak like the archetypal Cabernets and Malbecs of California and South America. But it's got a certain allure--that's for sure. This 2008 is a great value from the D.O. (place of origin) La Mancha. Be sure to swish, because there's a lot of flavor in there if you look for it.

Presentation: **
Nose: ****
Complexity: **
Value: ****

Overall: ***

Paso A Paso 2009 Tempranillo

This wine from the La Mancha region of Spain is simply Tempranillo done right. It's nose is spectacular, and it has a muscular and dry body with leather and dusty flavors. Not overly spicy but a decent kick. Good with food, especially a sharp cheddar cheese or crackers, but delightful all by itself. Across the board, great quality and value.

Presentation: ***
Nose: *****
Complexity: ***
Value: ****

Overall: ****

"Don Maximiano" Vineyard 2008 Carmenere (Aconcagua Valley)

Only certain wines can master spice and complexity and hold it against a creamy texture as nicely as this Carmenere. It's not overly complex, yet the layers of flavor that make up this wine remind me of the classic axiom "do whatever you do well." It's not as, with some wines, where it's power makes up for a lack of complexity; rather, this wine's rich texture and spice are in delightful harmony. Eucalyptus, earth, and leather are drawn together into the bouquet that this wine rewards its drinkers with. A single vineyard wine, produced by Errazuriz, is a Carmenere that surely won't dissapoint.

Presentation: ****
Nose: ****
Complexity: *****
Value: *****

Overall: *****

La Storia 2005 Estate Bottled Petit Sirah

This 2005 Petit Sirah is delighhtful, and really shines in its presentation and its nose. It offers afomas of black licorice, prunes, figs, and the bold earthiness that makes Petit Sirah such great wine. Where it lacked was in complexity and in it's taste/nose on the 2nd day. Overall, a very nice wine, one worthy of ordering in a restaurant on a fun occasion, or for a Friday or Saturday night dinner. Produced by Trentadue; estate bottled in Alexander Valley (Sonoma).

Presentation: *****
Nose: ****
Complexity: **
Value: ***

Overall: ***